Matrix for the manufacture of stereotype and like blocks for printing.



UNITE STATES L TENT FFICE.

ARTHUR DUTTON, or RUNCORN, ENGLAND.

MATRIX ron THE MANUFACTURE or STEREOTYPE AND LIKE BLOCKS FOR PRINTING.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR D' 'r'roN, British subject, residing atRuncorn, county of Chester, England,.have invented new and useful Improvements in Matrices for the Manufacture of Stereotype and Like Blocks for Printing, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in matrices for the manufacture of stereotype and like blocks for printing and is designed to provide a matrix which shall be unshrinkable and practically unaffected by heat.

Matrices as at present made are formed almost if not quite universally of various kinds of papitr mach, and such matrices under the action of exposure, damp and the ordinary Wetting they receive in course of use lose their shape and. no two exactly similar blocks can be roduced from the same matrix even shoul it not be spoiled by the heat when the first cast is taken from it. For the same reason only a soft metal, that is one melting at a comparatively low temperature, can be used with such matrices, so

that such blocks are but seldom used for reproducing pictures.

This invention permits of producin a matrix which is practically unshrinka lo and unaifected by heat, so that any number of identical blocks can be cast therefrom, a harder metal can be employed for the blocks so that they have a better and finer printing surface and can be used With advantage for reproducing pictures, half tone blocks can .be produced from them, and a number of suchblo'cks may be produced from the same matrix which will give perfect register for printing by the three color process.

It has already been proposed to. overcome these objections by using a matrix made of sheet asbestos or asbestos 'pul but the fibrous nature of the asbestos an its toughness have been insuperable obstacles to their general adoption, as I find that theproduction of a matrix from such material very speedily ruins the type used therefor, and individual fibers are apt to rise and become embedded in the cast.

The invention consists essentially in a matrix made from anumber of sheets of asbestos cemented together by any suitable hinder or cement, with a coating or impregnation of precipitated sulfate of barium, either by itself or in combination with one or more other heat-resisting materials,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17,1913.

Application filed December 13', 1909. Serial N 0. 532,869.

adapted to give a smooth and polished surface under pressure.

In carryin .out the invention the matrix is constructed of a number of sheets of asbestos sufiicient to produce the desired thickness cemented together with any suitable binder such as rye starch. It is preferable to use very thin sheets of asbestos for this purpose, and that the composite sheet thus produced be firmly pressed or rolled to increase its firmness and durability. This sheet is then treated with the above described heat-resisting filling'or coating, as the fibrous texture of the asbestos takes away slightly from the fineness, accuracy 7 and sharpness of matrices produced directly therefrom. Suchfilling or coating material may be dusted onto the multiple sheet of asbestos prepared as above described, or the sheet may be treated in a paste of the material the latter being Worked into the sheet; or the sheet may be coated on one or both sides with the paste, or the material may be mixed with the binding material for uniting the separate sheets of asbestos in the matrix, orv it may be treated with the material in any other suitable Way. A small proportion of rye starch or other binder may be mixed With the material if this is found necessary or desirable.- In addition to em ploying a filling or coating material such as escribed, the sheet ma be covered or coathave found that a suitable material for this purpose is precipitated sulfate of barium, which may be used either by itself or mixed with other refractory materials. A matrix prepared in the Way described With this material under pressure takes a beautiful smooth and polished surface and produces most-excellent blocks.

What I claim as my invention and desire sheets of asbestos cemented together and treated With precipitated barium sulfate,

and then subjected to pressure to increase the firmness and durability of the matrix.

3. A matrix for stereotype printing consisting of a plurality of thin sheets of ashestos cemented tegether, coated with precipitated barium sulfate and faced with thin metellie foil.

t. A matrix for stereotype printing con sisting of a 'Jlurality of thin sheets of asbestos cemented together, coated With precipitated barium sulfate, subjected to pressure to increasethe'firmness and stability of the matrix antfilaeed with thin metallic foil.

5. A matrix for stereotype printing consisting of u plurality of thin sheets of ashes tes cemented together, and treated with a mixture et heat resisting materials includinp; precipitated barium sulfate.

6. A matrix for stereotype printing censistiug (if a plurality of thin sheets of ashes tes cemented together, treated with a mixture of heat-resisting n'laterials including precipitated barium sulfate, and faced with thin metallic foil.

7. A matrix for stereotype printing censisting of a plurality of thin sheets of ashestos cemented together, coated with a mixture of heat-resisting materials, including preeipitated barium sulfate and subjected to pressure to increase the firmness andstability of the matrix.

8. A matrix for stereotype printing eon",

scribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR DUTTON. Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN, B. TABIIAM WoommAn. 

